McIntosh Unveils its Smallest Solid-State Integrated Amp

McIntosh today introduced a two-channel integrated amplifier designed to deliver big sound from a small package.

The MA5300 ($5,000) is the company’s smallest solid-state integrated amp in terms of physical size and rated power output: 2 x 100 watts in to 8 ohms or 2 x 160 watts into 4 ohms. Featuring a direct-coupled architecture, the amplifier boasts McIntosh’s signature blue power meters, which display output wattage at both 4 and 8 ohms. A black-glass front panel, illuminated logo, and aluminum end caps complete the classic Mac look.

The amp is well connected with 12 inputs: six analog and six digital. Analog connections include four unbalanced, one balanced, and one moving-magnet phono input. On the digital side, there are two coaxial, two optical, one USB, and a proprietary MCT input for use with McIntosh’s MCT series of SACD/CD transports.

All digital connections are housed in the company’s replaceable DA1 Digital Audio Module, which includes a 32-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports DSD files up to DSD256 and DXD PCM files up to 384 kHz/24 bits. Gold-plated speaker binding posts round out the MA5300’s back panel.

Inputs can be assigned user-friendly names to simplify system control and configuration.

Other highlights of the MA5300 include “McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks,” which are connected to high-current output transistors to eliminate warm-up time, improved control microprocessors, audio-grade circuit components, bass and treble controls, a headphone amplifier, and McIntosh’s time-tested Power Guard and Sentry Monitor technologies.